A Boy and His iPad

[sheic99]

people who buy this shit are batshit insane. you can get the same thing from i dont know... lenovo for half the price

Yeah but then you can't creatively watch films or browse the web in public places! As with the overwhelming majority of Apple products that come out these days (Macbook Pros semi-excluded) these are things to be seen using, not to use. I mean, what's the point of holding a computer up in front of you to watch a film when no-one is around to notice?

Speaking of which, I actually met a guy who used XP on a Macbook. It's the best of both worlds, you get to look cool and use a good OS.

@OP: I heard that the Ipad has a very poor signal strength with it getting only 1 bar, in areas where the Iphones are getting 4 or 5. Have you experienced this with yours?

 

[Trujkin]

@OP: I heard that the Ipad has a very poor signal strength with it getting only 1 bar, in areas where the Iphones are getting 4 or 5. Have you experienced this with yours?

I've not found this to be the case with my unit, so hopefully it's not a widespread thing.

 

[IDBash]

It wasnt bad? High praise indeed! I long for the days I can spend £500 on something that merely doesnt suck

Well, its what the entirety of the television market has become.

Apparently mediocrity is the future of everything.

This thing not only is mediocre and overpriced, but it has no use at all due to the fact that everything it has is already on the iP____(fill in blank). The Courier actually makes sense to me as a useful device that will actually fill a need. Also, when you consider that ion based architecture is above and beyond anything as far as batteryower ratio goes, I would say that everyone outside of Apple is moving forward, where Apple is still in the make it pretty over making it useful.

I am still holding out hope for the M$ Courier... It actually has a point.

Other thoughts: This article reeks of Apple fanboy. Get a Windows 7 x64 desktop(spend about 1000$ with a local shop or 5000$ from a prefab), a ZuneHD, and an Android Phone. Use them for a year, and then come back and review this again along with all other apple reviews, and I would be interested in the revisions.

 

[Trujkin]

Other thoughts: This article reeks of Apple fanboy. Get a Windows 7 x64 desktop(spend about 1000$ with a local shop or 5000$ from a prefab), a ZuneHD, and an Android Phone. Use them for a year, and then come back and review this again along with all other apple reviews, and I would be interested in the revisions.

First off it would be appreciated if you didn't bring epithets into the forum. Namecalling is simply not welcome here.

Second, your suggestion sounds like a truly terrible year for me personally. You should understand that seasoned computing veterans like myself use their operating system of choice based in years of experience and an acknowledgement that using the right tool for the job is paramount. Choosing one platform over another for people like me is not done so on the basis of what looks nice in the display case or how the latest and greatest is pitched to me with showmanship and chrome by a suave company spokesperson. It really is about getting the experience I want and prefer when it's time to get work done.

I chose Macintosh for my platform of choice many years ago, and version after version I give Windows a shot in an effort to prove to me that it is finally capable of doing what I require of it to allow me to work efficiently and happily. To date it has yet to do so. This is not because I'm an "Apple Fanboy", but because I'm an intelligent professional who has requirements of his operating system, not just the software it's capable of running or the hardware on which it does so. Windows and Linux have yet to meet those requirements. This rings equally true with my server choices, opting to use Linux as the superior choice to any other offering for our requirements. Surely Apple makes some fine and capable Unix-based servers, and they are indeed quite shiny and would look quite handsome in a contiguous array on our racks, but they were not the right choice for us, and I most certainly didn't force the issue because they were sharp looking.

I presented this piece as a fun glimpse into my initial experience with a new potentially exciting piece of hardware for which I spent my own hard-earned money. It's fine if you and most of everyone posting here think I pissed it away, but I simply don't agree. I already use my "mediocre," "overpriced" "waste of money" well beyond my original plan, finding further value in it as each day goes by. It's filled roles my iP_____ simply can't with its form factor, and offset tasks my laptop simply made inconvenient, cumbersome and reliant on a wall plug after a few hours.

I use what makes me proficient and happy. I would encourage each of you to do the same, on whatever software platform and using whatever hardware you prefer. Life is about the amazing choices we get to make every day, and I'd hope that on each of those days my choices would be respected by those for whom I would afford the same courtesy.

Regards,
Greg

 

[BlindMessiah94]

That article was very difficult to find the content within.
I understand you were telling a story woven with imagery and metaphors and adjectives and adverbs but it was quite convoluted for three pages when in essence all it said was "I liked the iPad".

Not trying to be a jerk, just an observation.

 

[Trujkin]

Well, part of the fun is the journey. All the more reason it was an Op-Ed and not a review

 

[Sam Spade]

Apple products and I have a strange relationship. I spend the good half of a year bashing the product then out of nowhere i decide to buy it and strange enough, fall in love with it.

 

[Expie]

Would anyone know if the iPad can work like a electronic sketchbook?

As a matter of fact there are some cool apps already available. I've got my eye on Autodesk's port of their Sketchbook Pro package. It looks pretty shiny.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook-pro/id364253478?mt=8

That alone may make me buy the iPad. Is it possible to use a stylus with it?

... I think a tablet is capable of doing pretty much everything 90% of people use a computer for, and why get a laptop if a tablet is all you need...

By the same token, why buy a tablet when a piece of paper and a pencil are all you need?

 

[IDBash]

Quotes spoilered to save space...

Spoiler

Other thoughts: This article reeks of Apple fanboy. Get a Windows 7 x64 desktop(spend about 1000$ with a local shop or 5000$ from a prefab), a ZuneHD, and an Android Phone. Use them for a year, and then come back and review this again along with all other apple reviews, and I would be interested in the revisions.

First off it would be appreciated if you didn't bring epithets into the forum. Namecalling is simply not welcome here.

Second, your suggestion sounds like a truly terrible year for me personally. You should understand that seasoned computing veterans like myself use their operating system of choice based in years of experience and an acknowledgement that using the right tool for the job is paramount. Choosing one platform over another for people like me is not done so on the basis of what looks nice in the display case or how the latest and greatest is pitched to me with showmanship and chrome by a suave company spokesperson. It really is about getting the experience I want and prefer when it's time to get work done.

I chose Macintosh for my platform of choice many years ago, and version after version I give Windows a shot in an effort to prove to me that it is finally capable of doing what I require of it to allow me to work efficiently and happily. To date it has yet to do so. This is not because I'm an "Apple Fanboy", but because I'm an intelligent professional who has requirements of his operating system, not just the software it's capable of running or the hardware on which it does so. Windows and Linux have yet to meet those requirements. This rings equally true with my server choices, opting to use Linux as the superior choice to any other offering for our requirements. Surely Apple makes some fine and capable Unix-based servers, and they are indeed quite shiny and would look quite handsome in a contiguous array on our racks, but they were not the right choice for us, and I most certainly didn't force the issue because they were sharp looking.

I presented this piece as a fun glimpse into my initial experience with a new potentially exciting piece of hardware for which I spent my own hard-earned money. It's fine if you and most of everyone posting here think I pissed it away, but I simply don't agree. I already use my "mediocre," "overpriced" "waste of money" well beyond my original plan, finding further value in it as each day goes by. It's filled roles my iP_____ simply can't with its form factor, and offset tasks my laptop simply made inconvenient, cumbersome and reliant on a wall plug after a few hours.

I use what makes me proficient and happy. I would encourage each of you to do the same, on whatever software platform and using whatever hardware you prefer. Life is about the amazing choices we get to make every day, and I'd hope that on each of those days my choices would be respected by those for whom I would afford the same courtesy.

Regards,
Greg

Ok... first off, for someone who doesn't like "Namecalling" you place a lot of names in your argument. Also, I have zero problems with fanboys, in fact, I in a way glad they exist, because it gives companies such as Apple and Microsoft second chances.

Now, my "intelligent professional", I will get to some counter-points. I am more diversely experienced and educated than most when it comes to computers. It is my job to know exactly what each individual company or person needs and will be most useful with, and has been for almost 10 years professionally. If something goes wrong, they call me. I have worked and do work with a mixture of most big name OS's, and I will be the first to say that Apple has its place. I love my MacBook Pro's ability to run VMs easily. And if you wanted to get really paranoid, it would never touch the internet because Apple is packed full of virus's now because every Windows user is "intelligent" enough to realize they need antivirus, and Apple users still think that they are virus free. (btw if you are a mac only user, got get some A/V, you need it badly whether you know it or not. The easiest people to get are the unsuspecting.) I also use Linux based servers, mostly RedHat due to the programmers? desire. And finally, I use Windows Server 2008 for app servers, web servers, and DB servers because you can rely on them to just work and work regardless of what you do to them.

When I say that you are a "fanboy" I mean that you have not given anything else a fair shot, and if you did, your glasses would be clear. For example; you would realize that you put this article on the front page of a gaming oriented site. What OS does gaming best? Oh that's right, Windows. Windows users want 1 thing most, flexibility. I want to be able to everything on every device I own. If I want to make my gaming rig my domain controller, then so be it. Or if I want my laptop to play games at the same time as work on spreadsheets, so be it. We will not accept the opposite, 3-5 devices that all accomplish the same task. Why would I want to carry a big touchpad with a big easily scratched screen that does the same things my phone can, and my iPod can, and my laptop can. So consider your audience before posting something that is blatantly against the grain of your community. Also, I intend and intended no disrespect; I am a cold, callous, and critical person. Which makes me very good at computers but not so good at people. Personally, I think that the iPad was a gift to the Apple fanboys, but I think it was seriously lacking in the innovation department.

Also, is it really too much to ask for some better screen quality and camera and all the things you know are going to be added in the next version in the first one?!? I mean really, enough profiteering Apple; they are worse than the CoD makers.

Just a lot of food for thought.


Respectfully,
-Cameron

 

[The Heik]

Would anyone know if the iPad can work like a electronic sketchbook?

As a matter of fact there are some cool apps already available. I've got my eye on Autodesk's port of their Sketchbook Pro package. It looks pretty shiny.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sketchbook-pro/id364253478?mt=8

That alone may make me buy the iPad. Is it possible to use a stylus with it?

... I think a tablet is capable of doing pretty much everything 90% of people use a computer for, and why get a laptop if a tablet is all you need...

By the same token, why buy a tablet when a piece of paper and a pencil are all you need?

Yes, but I smudge a lot, and a tablet doesn't physically fall apart after being used by me. Besides, if I had a sketchbook with that many pages available I would be carrying the equivalent of the whole Encyclopedia Britannica series in my backpack.

 

[venganza]

plants vs zombies in the ipad omg

 

[ZephrC]

... I think a tablet is capable of doing pretty much everything 90% of people use a computer for, and why get a laptop if a tablet is all you need...

By the same token, why buy a tablet when a piece of paper and a pencil are all you need?

Can a piece of paper and a pencil check Wikipedia now? Whoo technology!

I don't like the iPad, and I don't want a tablet, but they certainly do have a place. They're just now reaching the point where the technology can support what they need to be, so they're just now starting to become popular. As much as I dislike Apple, I do have to admit they know just when to jump on to the next new thing, and I don't believe this will be any different.

I don't even think this iPad is a good tablet. The lack of multitasking is especially strange. But that won't stop it from being a success.

 

[humantis]

13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings [http://www.livescience.com/technology/13-glaring-ipad-shortcomings-100404.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Livesciencecom+(LiveScience.com+Science+Headline+Feed)]

 

[Trujkin]

When I say that you are a "fanboy" I mean that you have not given anything else a fair shot, and if you did, your glasses would be clear.

Thank you for your more objective and comprehensive reply. Unfortunately it's apparent to me that you're still only interested in telling me that I'm wrong, proven by your once again making broad and baseless assumptions as I've quoted here. You simply can't know this statement to be true, and I assure you it's not.

I would have enjoyed continuing this discourse otherwise.

 

[Mr. Mike]

I understand the appeal of Apple products, what with the stream-lined software meaning everything's there from the get-go. However, for those who like full control over what they're doing, and the ability to modify and play around with it, Windows is where its at for most people.

Apple products in general cost more for that stream-lined experience, and it's down to the individual consumer about whether that ease of use is worth the price-hike.

 

[Tiut]

Very informative article. I'm a PCfag, so this doesn't really affect me, but it was interesting to see a user rating for the iPad.

13 Glaring iPad Shortcomings [http://www.livescience.com/technology/13-glaring-ipad-shortcomings-100404.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Livesciencecom+(LiveScience.com+Science+Headline+Feed)]

This.

I mean, if one wants to blow their money on the new and exciting thing, that's cool, but at least make said purchase worthwhile.

 

[Danpascooch]

When I say that you are a "fanboy" I mean that you have not given anything else a fair shot, and if you did, your glasses would be clear.

Thank you for your more objective and comprehensive reply. Unfortunately it's apparent to me that you're still only interested in telling me that I'm wrong, proven by your once again making broad and baseless assumptions as I've quoted here. You simply can't know this statement to be true, and I assure you it's not.

I would have enjoyed continuing this discourse otherwise.

It's always fun to see someone have their argument beaten dead by the cold metal crowbar of logic.

 

[Sonic Doctor]

It was mentioned somewhere in this thread that the educational market lost interest in apple/mac.

That isn't entirely true. I live in Indiana and my friend's sister a year or so ago, got accepted and has been attending college at Ball State University. During the tour of the campus, the sister was told by the guide that Ball State was going to get rid of all their Windows PCs and fill all the labs with Macs, they said that Macs were easier to use and they were going to become an all Mac school. Granted, that is one of the worst decisions that a school can make, but Ball State was stupid enough to do it.

Because of that, my friend's sister came to the conclusion that she had to have a Mac, so she got, if I remember correctly, a Macbook or whatever they're called. One day during that summer before she started at Ball State, I had come over to that friends house for an XBox 360 game night. The sister was setting up her Macbook and she was having some problems. My friend told my to go help her, because he said that if he got a hold of it, it would probably explode or explode because he would throw it out the window. What the sister needed help with was installing some word-processing software. That stupid Mac asked me three times if I was sure that I wanted to install that software, after that I was pretty sure that I was about to do what my friend said he would do, throw it out the window. The design of that Mac was messed up. It took me at least 5 minutes to find the ejection button for the CD slot when it was done installing that software. The CD slot was on the right side of the Mac and the eject button was all the way over on the left, and it wasn't even labeled as the eject button, I think it had a tiny etching of a CD or something but it was so small I couldn't tell. I only hit it because it was one of the random buttons I pressed in my search for it.

Also, Mac users claim that Macs are so much more reliable than PCs, but in my friend's sister's second semester, at the end right before a big paper was due, not long after she finished the paper and before she could print it off and turn it in, the Mac just up an died, all I know is that one of the major components quit working and she had to get the whole Mac replaced.

 

[Burst6]

I hope i become rich enough one day to want a ipad.

From all the articles i read, it's basically a large i-phone without flash or USB drives. I would rather buy a i-phone.

 

[ideitbawx]

Personally I lost interest when he told me they wanted to charge him £700 to put in another 4GB RAM when they built it for him.

Was that a typo? Surely it was. I mean, £70 is quite high for four gigs, right? Surely that's what you meant to type... RIGHT?!?

*Shaking Visibly* RIGHT!?!

Seven hundred my friend. Seven hundred.

Holy fucking Spaghetti-Monster... That's unbelievable! Since when is a 1000% markup acceptable?!

It's a well known fact that you always buy the smallest amount of RAM from Apple and upgrade it yourself. Apple's RAM prices have never made any sense.

some box department stores -- sorry, ALL box department stores -- will sell items like tv's, computers, ipods/mp3 players, etc below cost, then mark up the prices on accessories, and load you up with as many of them as they can to make up for lost profit. ever notice how a cord that looks like it'd only be worth about ten dollars costs 74?

my brother used to work for a store in thunder bay. one story he told me was about these cameras they had in stock. they listed for about 250 bucks, and they weren't selling. so one of the salesmen got an idea: he marked up the price to 549, and included the camera in his sales pitch. when people who liked the camera noticed the steep price, he'd give them "a deal" and "drop" the price to 250! they cleared the store pretty quick after that.